congratulations on spotting your first bicycle, you can cross that off your bucket list

21 Comments

8th Nov 2018

This doesn't look bad value based on what aluminium framed children's bicycles normally cost but there is such blatant profiteering on children's bikes, all the components here are low end, there is hardly any metal and the cost of manufacture must be incredibly cheap. Not only that but in many factories aluminium welders learn with children's bikes as the welds are less critical when the bike has to support far lighter riders. So you often see inferior welds on children's bikes. However I accept it's not what something costs to make but what people are prepared to pay. This bike could easily sell at full retail for £100 if it had the same margin as adult bikes.

You've never seen mountain bikes upward of 1k? It's an extreme sport and I'd honestly say my life has been saved many times due to the quality of my bike (new, £2500). If I was on a trash 150 bike that I'd get from Halfords, my forks would of snapped, my handlebars flipped the wrong way around and me impaled on a large pole of dense steel. So yeah... They're expensive. But the question is is it good deals on bikes of quality. It's like saying you've never seen cars that expensive whilst staring at range rovers.

Who names Carrera bikes? Abyss is such a negative word and seems like someone at Halfords is not keen on children or something and just wants them to disappear into a bottomless pit. I would of thought positive names like 'Explorer', 'Adventurer', 'Discover' or similar names would be positive. Naming aside the Abyss looks a good bike with slightly better components and even reinforcing on the frame but might be slight overkill on a child's bike like this. It's the same components used on adults bikes and children are lighter and less powerful than adults. I guess the Altus derailleur is wisely chosen as it will likely take more abuse than the tourney and keep working. The Abyss looks a better bike than the Cube slightly but really these bikes are often only used for a few years before being sold again where you won't recoup much of your money normally. The Cube is cheaper, more stylish and might have better resale value over the Carrera.

Personally I feel going secondhand is the best option for a child's bike as there is such a high turnover of children's bikes. A good clean and polish and a few adjustments should restore its condition. Furniture polish is good for restoring tyres to a new looking state.

9th Nov 2018

Great price! My son has one of the bigger model and they are really good bikes. He uses it a lot and after a year it is still looking great. Also these can sell pretty well second hand as well once he needs a bigger one. Worth the price as kids will ride these bikes and they will last.

9th Nov 2018

Nice find, heat added.

I’m looking for a 14” bike. The Halfords jobbies weigh more than an adults bike. Can anyone recommend a good 14”er for a 4yr old. Thanks

Nice find, heat added.I’m looking for a 14” bike. The Halfords jobbies wei …Nice find, heat added.I’m looking for a 14” bike. The Halfords jobbies weigh more than an adults bike. Can anyone recommend a good 14”er for a 4yr old. Thanks

Honestly, a second-hand Islabikes Cnoc 14 - you'll pay more, but get 95% of it back when you sell it on as they grow up. No other bike will work out as cheap, if you buy wisely and look after it!

As a note, my own son was on a Beinn 20 when he was 4yr 4mo old - it's worth looking to see if you can push them up a bit as the larger wheels and gears of the 20" wheeled bikes massively increases their scope for cycling longer distances and more interesting terrain. Have a look at their sizing guide and don't worry if you're just off the bottom for a given size - they are quite conservative and kids grow like weeds anyway!

Nice find, heat added.I’m looking for a 14” bike. The Halfords jobbies wei …Nice find, heat added.I’m looking for a 14” bike. The Halfords jobbies weigh more than an adults bike. Can anyone recommend a good 14”er for a 4yr old. Thanks

Evans own brand stuff is Pinnacle - second hand these go for peanuts

Although some sites would say 4 year old is 16" and at that size I keep seeing second hand Pinnacle Koto's being sold cheaply - my eldest had this as her second bike when I made the mistake of buying her something too heavy that she could not steer. Less than 30 minutes to get her riding on the Koto and a bargain second hand compared to Isla and like.

9th Nov 2018

Ohhhhh

10th Nov 2018

Great bikes. My son has one and he loves it. Really lightweight compared to many bikes of this size, still expensive but with the discount would recommend.

Nice find, heat added.I’m looking for a 14” bike. The Halfords jobbies wei …Nice find, heat added.I’m looking for a 14” bike. The Halfords jobbies weigh more than an adults bike. Can anyone recommend a good 14”er for a 4yr old. Thanks

Our boy had a Dawes ‘blowfish’ aluminium light weight and about £120 new but seen cheap second hand, best thing I ever bought, he was doing trails and jumps with me for miles at 4.

Can anyone help me with sizing? Would this be suitable for a smallish nine year old?

15th Nov 2018

OOS

15th Nov 2018

Any other suggestions on alternatives for this? Was going to get this but it's gone out of stock (and more expensive elsewhere).Carrera Abyss mentioned above which seems decent (also around 10kg, which is a crucial factor for me (trying to accommodate 4 bikes on a bike rack). (and around £200)Dawes Blowfish also mentioned - but has no gears, which rules it out for me.